VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF EXERCISE

August 6, 2017

Staying physically active is one of the best investments you can make. In an ideal world, all school children would develop a foundation of physicality that includes strength, endurance, speed, and flexibility. Once a strong foundation is established and the principles of movement understood, then this can be built upon, altered and improvised as one gets older. Not everyone is going to be an athlete and perform at an elite level, but everyone is going to get older, lose muscle mass, and develop stiffness if they don’t keep their bodies in shape.

Take the simple activity of getting up from the floor. For most of us, we don’t even need to think about this, but for an aged body that has lost strength in the leg and gluteal muscles, this can be near impossible. I can recall many old patients who have been brought into the emergency department having been found after 2 or 3 days because they have fallen and been unable to stand up. They develop a life threatening condition called rhabdomyolysis where the muscles break down and kidney failure results. The fact is that we need a strong and capable physical body to enjoy our years on this planet.

The good news is that it is never too late to work on our physical capabilities. A little strength training, some balance work, endurance and flexibility is all it takes, along with regularity. Find your way to make exercise part of your life. Here’s a few tips:

Fun- do something that you enjoy, then its not an effort.

Buddy- grab a friend and do something together

Time- choosing the same time every day helps regularity

Goals- measure your current state, set goals, and measure again

Help- make use of trainers and other health professionals to help you reach your goal

And remember, be grateful for the body you have, and make sure to treat it with the respect it deserves.